ETAT DES LIEUX DES ZONES HUMIDES ALGERIENNES: TYPOLOGIE ET INVENTAIRE

Abstract

Our study relates to an inventory of wetlands in Algeria, with the proposal of a new typology of wet habitats. The aim is to standardize the information base relating to Algerian wetlands, on the one hand, and to establish a classification of all wetlands in the country, on the other. The method adopted is a national inventory of wetlands carried out between 2018 and 2019, which reported 5404 wetlands, among which, 4252 natural and 1152 artificial. Numerically, the ecological region of the North East occupies the first place with 1585 wets sites, followed by the Nord-Center region (1479 sites), the High-Plateau region (1095 sites), the South region (660 sites), and finally, we find the North West region with 585 wetlands. The new classification system for the main wetland habitats is divided into two categories: “coastal” marine wetlands and “terrestrial” continental wetlands. The new typology adopted has made it possible to identify 71 habitats at the national level, including 46 continental habitats and 25 "coastal" marine habitats. Finally, our study represents a working tool both for scientists and for planners and managers, concerned with the sustainable use of the country's wetlands.